Tanzania’s electoral commission on Wednesday barred the presidential candidate of its second biggest opposition party from contesting polls in October, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan to face only candidates from smaller parties. The Independent National Electoral Commission approved Hassan and her running mate Emmanuel Nchimbi to run in the October 29 election after receiving their nomination forms earlier on Wednesday. The vote will be held without the participation of leading opposition party CHADEMA, which was disqualified in April after failing to sign the electoral code of conduct as part of its call for electoral reforms. INEC also declined to take nomination forms from presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), the second largest opposition party, the party said on Wednesday.

Full report : Tanzania president cleared to run in October election, key rivals barred.